It's natural to wonder if your baby is growing as they should. Understanding infant development stages gives you an idea of what to expect and when. It also enables you to better support their all-round development and intervene when it is needed.
Learn more about Monthly Development
It is one of the earliest milestones in a baby's development that strengthens muscles and improves coordination. It typically occurs between 3 and 5 months.
Tummy time is the practice of placing your baby on their tummy while they are awake to help strengthen their neck, back, and shoulder muscles. It is vital for encouraging motor skill development and preventing flat head syndrome. Start with 2-3 minutes, 3 times a day, and gradually increase to 20-30 minutes daily by 3 months.
Motor development in infants includes both gross motor skills, which involve large muscles, and fine motor skills which focus on smaller, more precise movements.
| Age | Gross motor skill | Fine motor skill |
| 3 months | Lifting their head during tummy time | Grasping a rattle |
| 6 months | Rolling over | Passing objects between hands |
| 12 months | Crawling, attempting to stand | Pincer grasp (using thumb and finger) |
Babies begin with tummy crawling and then advance to hands-and-knee movements between 6 to 10 months. But it's normal for some babies to skip it altogether and start walking.
Most babies can sit with support by 4 months and unassisted by 6-7 months. But this depends on when they develop the necessary muscle strength. As parents, you can help them here.
Most babies take their first steps between 12 and 18 months. Early signs your baby will walk soon include pulling up, cruising along furniture, and standing unassisted.
Infants experience rapid brain or cognitive development in their early years, marked by milestones like recognising faces, responding to names, and solving simple problems.
This theory outlines four stages of cognitive development that children go through. These stages explain how a child learns and understands the world at different ages.
The Bayley Scales of Infant Development measure a baby’s cognitive, motor, and social-emotional growth to track their progress against a standard baby milestones chart.
| Age | Cognitive milestones | Motor milestones | Social-emotional milestones |
| 1-3 months | Focuses on faces, tracks objects | Lifts head during tummy time | Smiles at caregivers |
| 4-6 months | Explores objects with hands/mouth | Rolls over, reaches for toys | Recognises familiar people |
| 7-9 months | Looks for hidden objects (peek-a-boo) | Sits without support, begins crawling | Responds to name, enjoys social play |
| 10-12 months | Imitates gestures like waving | Pulls to stand, takes first steps | Shows preferences for specific people |
Cognitive development helps your baby learn to think, reason, and understand the world around them. Some key moments of cognitive development in infants include recognising familiar faces, responding to their name, and exploring objects. Problem-solving and communication follow soon after.
Be prepared as they grow at an amazing pace during the first year. Some key moments of cognitive development in infants include your baby recognising familiar faces, responding to their names, and exploring objects. Problem-solving and starting to communicate are also exciting cognitive development examples you’ll notice along the way.
Top tips for optimal development of your Infant
Baby’s routine
Try building a daily schedule for your baby's feeding, napping, and bath times.
Newborn care
Give your baby a warm bath to help relax their bowels.
Vaccine shots
Try distracting your baby with a toy, song or breastfeeding during their vaccine shot.
Portion size
When your baby starts eating, feed small portions and encourage them to chew their food.
Develop immunity
Discuss routine care & immunisations with your pediatrician to build your baby’s immunity
The early years are crucial for a baby’s brain development, as their growth is rapidly influenced by stimulation and nutrition.
This is why baby talk gives infant brains a boost, helping them develop language and social skills. Feeding your baby brain-friendly foods such as spinach, eggs, and fish also supports healthy development.
Tracking your baby’s height and weight helps ensure they’re developing as expected. So let’s explore what’s normal and how to support their healthy development.
Monitoring your baby's weight is crucial for assessing healthy growth. In India, the average birth weight ranges from 2.8 to 3.2 kg.
Tracking your baby’s growth is a sign that they are on the right track. In India, the normal height of an infant at birth ranges between 48-53 cm.
Tracking your baby's development assures that they are growing well. Here’s a quick look at what you should expect.
Tracking your baby's development month by month gives you a glimpse into what to expect. So what are the baby development stages month by month? Here’s a quick look at what you should expect.
Most infants roll over between 3 to 5 months, starting with tummy-to-back rolls. Back-to-tummy rolling usually comes a bit later as babies build stronger muscles through activities like tummy time.
Crawling typically starts between 6 to 10 months. Some babies begin with tummy crawling (dragging themselves forward with their arms) before moving on to hands-and-knee crawling.
By their first birthday, most babies can stand with support, take a few steps while holding onto furniture, and say their first words like "mama" or "dada." Other common milestones include clapping hands, waving goodbye, and curiosity.
Babies usually begin sitting up unassisted between 4 to 7 months. They start by propping themselves up with their hands and gradually develop the core strength to sit independently.
Most babies start walking between 12 and 18 months, but it’s perfectly normal if your baby takes a bit longer. Early signs of walking include pulling themselves up to stand, cruising along furniture, and balancing briefly without support.
